Christmas Reindeer Cookies

This post brought to you by The Hershey Company. The content and opinions expressed below are that of The Suburban Mom.

Do you ever have an idea in your head that you hope will turn out at least half as well as you hope? That’s pretty much how it goes every single time I bake, especially when I decide to get creative with food. Today’s creative success is not only adorable, but these Christmas Reindeer Cookies are easy too. 

I am feeling pretty proud of myself today. It doesn’t hurt that my daughters were amazed by my reindeer creating skills. 

“Whatcha making mom?”

“Reindeer.”

“With a Hershey’s Kiss? How?” 

“Watch.”

“Ohhhh, so cool! Can I eat one?”

Yep, my reindeer cookies were a hit. Thanks to an upside down Hershey’s Kisses Milk Chocolate, my idea came to life and we had a ton of fun. And yes, we enjoyed eating them too!

Baking Christmas cookies is one of our favorite Christmas traditions. My girls and I don our matching Christmas aprons load the DVD player with Christmas movies and settle in to bake, decorate and (of course) eat a lot of Christmas cookies. I have fond memories of baking Christmas cookies with my mom and grandma, and I am happy to pass those memories down to my daughters. 

We have our favorite family recipes, but I also like to mix things up and come up with something new each year. And many of our recipes, new and old, feature Hershey’s products. 

Reindeer Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon table salt
• 1 1/2 cups sugar, plus 1/2 cup for rolling
• 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and warm
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Large red sprinkles
• Candy eyes
• Pretzel sticks

Makes 3 dozen cookies.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheet with Silpat or parchment paper.

In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

Mix together 1 1/2 cups of sugar, cream cheese and melted butter. Add oil, egg, milk and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth.

Fold in flour mixture with rubber spatula until incorporated and a soft dough forms.

Place remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a small bowl. Scoop two-inch balls of dough, roll dough balls in your hands and then roll in sugar to coat. Space dough balls two inches apart on baking sheet. 

Bake cookies for 13-15 minutes, until set and just beginning to brown on the bottom. (They might not look done, but don’t over bake!)

While cookies are baking, use a knife to cut 3/4 inch tips of each end of the pretzel sticks. Discard the middle portion and set aside tips for decorating. 

Remove promptly from oven, and immediately press a Hershey’s Kisses Milk Chocolate tip down into each cookie. By the time you place the last Hershey’s Kisses Milk Chocolate, the first chocolates should be starting to melt. Place a red sprinkle at the bottom of the Hershey’s Kisses Milk Chocolate. Next place two candy eyes in the middle of the chocolate. Finally, place pretzel tips for antlers. 

Allow cookies to fully cool on the baking sheet before transferring to an airtight container.

For more ideas to incorporate products from The Hershey Company into your Christmas traditions check out my other crafts and recipes with Hershey’s Kisses Milk Chocolates.

DIY Christmas Ornaments With Hershey’s Kisses Chocolates

Mini No-Bake Chocolate Mint Pies